Planning and growth seen as key issues

Published: Saturday, February 11, 2006 at 6:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, February 11, 2006 at 12:00 a.m.

BELLEVIEW - A week ago, Silvia Aizprua, her father and her two children, ages 9 and 10, moved from Fort Lauderdale to Diamond Ridge.
Like others in the fast-growing subdivision, the Aizpruas are trading a larger city for the smaller, quieter, up-and-coming community of Diamond Ridge within the city of Belleview.
Though the Aizpruas are still feeling their way around, Silvia says issues like the current search for a city manager are important to them, just as key as finding the nearest Catholic church or a Home Depot.
"I think we need one because we are growing, and the city needs to plan for that growth. If nothing is being done, then it will create a problem for schools and the traffic," Silvia Aizprua said.
After the city's disappointment in Rick Dodge, who in late December decided not to accept the city manager position, city officials once again have put out feelers for a top administrator. This time, commissioners have enlisted the assistance of the Florida City and County Management Association.
Known by the acronym FCCMA, the Tallahassee-based group's goal is to find qualified people from among their ranks or someone else from across the nation. They are performing the service at no cost.
Barry R. Evans is one of two FCCMA officials tasked with finding a city manager. Before his retirement in July 2000, Evans, a resident of the Sumter County portion of The Villages, was a city manager for 42 years. With the applications, Evans said he's mainly looking for education and experience. A job candidate must have either a bachelor's degree or a minimum of 10 years of government experience - or both.
"I want to see how long they have been there and what they did there," Evans said.
Experience in controlling growth and zoning are just some of the issues Silvia Aizprua would like to see a city manager possess.
"I don't want us to be like another Fort Lauderdale," she said.
Leading the FCCMA charge will be Richard Simmons, who for 39 years was an assistant city manager and city manager for several cities. Simmons and Evans share similar views on what to look for in a city manager.
Simmons said he thinks good human relations and steady employment are equally important.
"If I see someone had five, six or seven jobs lasting two or three years apiece, then I would say something is wrong. You want someone who has a record of being on the job for a while," said Simmons, a Kissimmee resident.
The men disagree on one thing.
The two-year pilot position in Belleview, which is expected to pay $60,000 to $75,000, is not guaranteed a support staff. For Evans, that bit of information, though vital, should not be a make-or-break issue for any candidate.
"You got to get in there and find out what is needed and educate them on it," Evans said.
Simmons said he believes the support staff issue should be publicized and thinks it may be a turnoff for good candidates.
"I think it will make a difference, because you do not want a constant fuss," Simmons said.
Neither Simmons nor Evans envisions a long selection process after the application deadline expired on Friday.
Mayor Tammy Moore, who will head the city's search delegation, said both teams will compare notes to decide on the final pool of six or seven candidates. From there, Moore said, she doesn't anticipate an interview process until late March or early April.
"I don't want to rush through the process," said Moore, who is not in favor of hiring a city manager.
As the mayor, Moore said, she was elected to do the people's job and would find it difficult to be left out of the process.
"I don't think I would like to come to the meetings to do nothing. I want to know what is going on," Moore said.
As for support staff, Moore agrees with Evans.
"He/she would have to show us how they can make this work. They would have to come up with ways on how to pay for their position without passing it on to the citizens," Moore said.
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Austin L. Miller may be reached at austin.miller@starbanner.com or (352) 867-4118.

BELLEVIEW - A week ago, Silvia Aizprua, her father and her two children, ages 9 and 10, moved from Fort Lauderdale to Diamond Ridge.<BR>
Like others in the fast-growing subdivision, the Aizpruas are trading a larger city for the smaller, quieter, up-and-coming community of Diamond Ridge within the city of Belleview.<BR>
Though the Aizpruas are still feeling their way around, Silvia says issues like the current search for a city manager are important to them, just as key as finding the nearest Catholic church or a Home Depot.<BR>
"I think we need one because we are growing, and the city needs to plan for that growth. If nothing is being done, then it will create a problem for schools and the traffic," Silvia Aizprua said.<BR>
After the city's disappointment in Rick Dodge, who in late December decided not to accept the city manager position, city officials once again have put out feelers for a top administrator. This time, commissioners have enlisted the assistance of the Florida City and County Management Association.<BR>
Known by the acronym FCCMA, the Tallahassee-based group's goal is to find qualified people from among their ranks or someone else from across the nation. They are performing the service at no cost.<BR>
Barry R. Evans is one of two FCCMA officials tasked with finding a city manager. Before his retirement in July 2000, Evans, a resident of the Sumter County portion of The Villages, was a city manager for 42 years. With the applications, Evans said he's mainly looking for education and experience. A job candidate must have either a bachelor's degree or a minimum of 10 years of government experience - or both.<BR>
"I want to see how long they have been there and what they did there," Evans said.<BR>
Experience in controlling growth and zoning are just some of the issues Silvia Aizprua would like to see a city manager possess.<BR>
"I don't want us to be like another Fort Lauderdale," she said.<BR>
Leading the FCCMA charge will be Richard Simmons, who for 39 years was an assistant city manager and city manager for several cities. Simmons and Evans share similar views on what to look for in a city manager.<BR>
Simmons said he thinks good human relations and steady employment are equally important.<BR>
"If I see someone had five, six or seven jobs lasting two or three years apiece, then I would say something is wrong. You want someone who has a record of being on the job for a while," said Simmons, a Kissimmee resident.<BR>
The men disagree on one thing.
The two-year pilot position in Belleview, which is expected to pay $60,000 to $75,000, is not guaranteed a support staff. For Evans, that bit of information, though vital, should not be a make-or-break issue for any candidate.<BR>
"You got to get in there and find out what is needed and educate them on it," Evans said.<BR>
Simmons said he believes the support staff issue should be publicized and thinks it may be a turnoff for good candidates.<BR>
"I think it will make a difference, because you do not want a constant fuss," Simmons said.<BR>
Neither Simmons nor Evans envisions a long selection process after the application deadline expired on Friday.<BR>
Mayor Tammy Moore, who will head the city's search delegation, said both teams will compare notes to decide on the final pool of six or seven candidates. From there, Moore said, she doesn't anticipate an interview process until late March or early April.<BR>
"I don't want to rush through the process," said Moore, who is not in favor of hiring a city manager.<BR>
As the mayor, Moore said, she was elected to do the people's job and would find it difficult to be left out of the process.<BR>
"I don't think I would like to come to the meetings to do nothing. I want to know what is going on," Moore said.<BR>
As for support staff, Moore agrees with Evans.<BR>
"He/she would have to show us how they can make this work. They would have to come up with ways on how to pay for their position without passing it on to the citizens," Moore said.<BR>
__________<I>
Austin L. Miller may be reached at austin.miller@starbanner.com or (352) 867-4118.<BR>